catalyst-chicago.org

Mayor Rahm Emanuel will be among big-city mayors participating in a Washington D.C. education forum Friday with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan that will highlight local efforts to improve education in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Chicago Public Schools chief Jean-Claude Brizard will attend along with the school CEOs of New York City and Los Angeles. (NBC Chicago)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday denounced as “totally false” Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis’  claim that Emanuel once told her 25 percent of Chicago’s Public School students “are never going to amount to anything,” so he “won’t throw resources at them.” (Sun-Times)

CBS Chicago also reports that Mayor Rahm Emanuel denies an accusation from the head of the teachers union that he ever made comments suggesting he has given up on some Chicago Public schoolchildren.

Chicago Board of Education Vice President Jesse Ruiz will be taking calls during this evening's "Schools on the Line" program on WBEZ. The show starts at 7 p.m., and phone lines open up at 6:45p.m. The number to call is 312-923-9239. WBEZ education reporter Linda Lutton will also moderate a live chat at starting at 6:45p.m.

IN THE NATION
After the publication of New York City teachers’ performance rankings, many parents said they were giving the data serious thought, but there was an equal measure of skepticism among others. (The New York Times)

Detroit Public Schools teachers, secretaries and teachers' aides will receive a 2.5 percent pay bonus this year and regain other lost pay as part of a settlement agreement reached Wednesday in federal court. (Detroit Free Press)

The East Detroit Public Schools board of education reluctantly voted to become a schools of choice district for Macomb County residents, but rejected notions to open its doors further to Metro Detroit. (MLive.com)

The Los Angeles school district's effort to identify teachers suspected of misconduct has been complicated by a little-known clause in the teachers' contracts that limits how long allegations can remain in a teacher's file. (Los Angeles Times)